Association news & class notes
1938
Doris Haines Dixon is 104 years young. She lives with her semi-retired daughter, Louisa, in Staunton, Virginia. Her son, Woody, also semi-retired, lives just five minutes away. Doris is the oldest member of Staunton’s First Presbyterian Church, the Thursday Morning Music Club, and the Augusta Garden Club. She was happy to receive her very own stuffed Green Terror, pom-poms, and a card from the Alumni Office for her birthday last year. Her music degree and experience at Western Maryland College have served her well throughout her life. After graduation, Doris taught music in Maryland public schools and loved boarding with the musical family of Louise Scott Widdup ’48. She organized and directed women’s choruses as part of her military service during World War II. She has always had a baby grand piano in her home as she continued to play piano and direct choirs at church, for her music club, for special events, and for fun.
1943
Winifred “Winnie” Wareheim Conner celebrated 100 years in May 2022, and loves reading about all the new academic and social opportunities open to McDaniel students.
Virginia Phillips and Sara Belle Veale Walker celebrated their 100th birthdays in 2022. Sara Belle lives in Catonsville, Maryland, and Virginia lives in Austin, Texas. Neither one travels, but they keep in touch by telephone.
Margaret “Peggy” Wilson Ruppersberger celebrated her 100th birthday in March 2022. She lives in Towson, Maryland. The years go by, but the memories keep her college experience alive. She still reads The Hill and remembers her years at WMC. She remembers the ritual after dinner where they walked down and “kicked the post.” If someone special wanted to walk with you after dinner, it was a sure sign of affection! Peggy has three children. Her son, Dutch, is a congressman and represents McDaniel in the newly drawn 2nd Congressional District.
Intrigued by Margaret “Peggy” Wilson Ruppersberger ’43’s recollection of the “kicking post” on campus, the college archivist did some research into the tradition. A 1941 article in the school paper reported: “Never let it be said that the ‘kicking post’ was a custom (and one with many themes) that didn’t rank on the upper three on [WMC]’s hit parade of tradition.”
While there isn’t a lot of detail on how the tradition began, it seems that the light post (or in later references, the telephone pole) on the street corner at WMC Alumni Hall was used as a way for women to vent their frustration at not being able to leave campus in the early days when men and women were not allowed to comingle.
“It sounds like it evolved into a spot couples would go when men and women were finally allowed to socialize together,” says Gwenlyn Coddington, college archivist and special collections librarian. The 1957-1958 Student Handbook also defined the kicking post as “the telephone pole on the street corner of Alumni Hall. You kick the post instead of throwing stones at your professor. It’s a sort of scapegoat.”
If you have further memories of the kicking post, please feel free to send them in to ocm@mcdaniel.edu.
1944
Genevieve Spry McGee turned 99 this past August and calls Lewes, Delaware, home. She does pretty well with a walker and a scooter for longer distances. She returned to Westminster, Maryland, for a couple of reunions and found the campus to be beautiful. She enjoys reading all of The Hill and especially reading about the new president, who Genevieve wishes well.
1945
Carroll Doggett Jr. sends greetings from Frederick, Maryland.
1948
Mary Ruth O’Kelly Elseroad sends warmest greetings to all her friends from Parkton, Maryland. She is blessed to continue to go to water aerobics at least once a week and enjoys having lunch with her pool friends. Mary Ruth celebrated her 96th birthday in 2022. She enjoyed celebrating the birthday of her great-grandson Grayson in October and enjoyed a delightful time with great-grandchildren Charlie and Lila at Stone Harbor, New Jersey, in July.
Jean Somerville McLane sends greetings from Bel Air, Maryland.
Louise Scott Widdup can’t believe it’s been 75 years since graduation. She is still enjoying living at the Heron Point Retirement Community in Chestertown, Maryland. Her bad knee is slowing her down but she’s still driving, playing bridge, and being grateful for Eastern Shore living.
1949
Helen Lavin Bell had a phenomenal year with art and family. She had a spectacular birthday celebrating with all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Helen resides in Riverside, California.
Thomas Doolittle Jr. is in good health and spirits in Gainesville, Florida. “It’s relative, isn’t it? Actually, abnormally so!” He plays tennis three times a week with partners and opponents who are more than 30 years his junior.
Donald Egner is not doing anymore 5Ks. He’s taking one-mile walks instead. He has four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and is involved in the church and Rotary Club. He has an eight-room house on a half-acre lot.
James Ward Jump is still in Ocean Pines, Maryland. He doesn’t get out much but celebrated his 95th birthday in December 2022. He has four great-grandchildren.
George Hankins is in good health and enjoying life in Middle River, Maryland.
1953
Ashby Collins sends greetings from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He is doing as well as he can. His wife, Doris, is a resident in a psychogeriatric facility in Philadelphia, where he is not allowed to visit her. He is blessed to have a good support system including his daughter, Cheryl Collins Reinecker ’79, and friends like Pete Posey ’55.
David Rhoads was glad to be able to join the lacrosse team alumni game on Sept.16, 2022, for the 72nd anniversary of him playing lacrosse for WMC. They had a great time and felt at home with all the team and alumni. The tour of the campus was super. All is well on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Ella Maie “Skip” Edwards Richardson finds it hard to believe that she was part of the class of 1953, which certainly helped to prepare her for the next 70 years of work (teaching), play, travel, marriage (Bob
Richardson ’50), motherhood (Linda and Robin), and even a business — all with many amazing adventures. She taught school in Maryland, Wyoming, and California as well as in Indonesia, Peru, and Saudi Arabia. She and Bob also started a travel group in Saudi Arabia that included many fantastic tours to countries including Jordan, Iran, Egypt, India, and Turkey. They retired from Aramco Oil Company in Saudi Arabia to return to the U.S. in 1983 after 21 great years overseas. After their return to the U.S., they finally settled in Cody, Wyoming, and bought a campground in 1987, which kept their family busy for the following 35 summers. Of course there were challenges along the way, but at 90 and looking back on her wonderful life, it still seems like a fairy tale to her filled with dear friendships and exciting memories — all so real and so very precious.
Theodore “Ted” Samakouris is doing well. He lives in the same house he built for himself and Ester Rice Samakouris ’52 in Damascus, Maryland. They have been blessed with 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Two girls and families live near him and two live in nearby states. Ted worked until he was 83, enjoying every day of those years. He has settled down alone at 93, after Esther passed away in October 2021. Things are slower now with only memories. He and Esther made many trips to Chios, Greece, for at least 25 to 30 years. They still have a home in Chios. He hopes to visit with his cousin and his family. He is looking forward to getting there and seeing his relatives, house, and property.
Dr. John Wilhelm and his wife, Ann, are both retired — John due to the pandemic. They have a new dog, Lily, and six grandchildren. They go to Virginia Beach, Virginia, often.
1954
Lois Cermak Runnels checked in and says that they are doing OK for two old fogies, living quite comfortably in a retirement home called Willow Valley in beautiful Lancaster, Pennsylvania. With a daughter living nearby, all their needs are taken care of. Lois keeps in touch with Pat Herman Douglas ’54 and she keeps her up to date with all the news. Lois sends her best to all.
Merrill Trader writes that the last two years have been lonely since his wife, Mary, died. His son, John Trader ’70, is a bishop of the Orthodox Church of America and lives in Alaska. Merrill is approaching 91 years of age and spends most of his time reading and watching old movies. He also attends physical therapy and doctors’ appointments several times a week.
Ethel Coffman Trevethan remembers Col. Alex Trevethan, who passed away on June 19, 1988, of service-connected disabilities. She also remembers Lois Coffman Lundberg ’56, her younger sister who passed away on Jan. 6, 2017. Their military tours left her feeling very blessed. She suggests travel while young. There is much to learn and discover of other cultures and ideas. Ethel is 90 years old and settled in San Antonio, Texas, with her three offspring. It’s now a clan of 22 across five generations. She’s grateful for the loving care. She is concerned about climate change and the future.
Charles H. Wheatley III writes that he and Charlotte Davis Wheatley ’56 still live in their four-story, 211-year-old, historic Lucabaugh Mill farmhouse, just a mile or so from the McDaniel campus. They have dedicated about 20 acres of their 40-plus-acre farm to establish the nonprofit Veterans BIG STEM Park (BIG = Business, Industry, Government). With a lot of hard work and good breaks, they hope to continue in 2023 with a Vietnam veterans ceremony and the park opening with the introduction of the first-of-its-kind exhibits in three sections that will incorporate much of the diverse 62-year work that he and Charlotte have been engaged in. Along with picnic groves and archery, there are electronic targets, autonomous cars, drones, and televised presentations of firsts in science, medicine, manufacturing, and all the other elements of the park’s name.
As the former editor of the “Gold Bug,” this may be too many memories. Pat Herman Douglas performs the somber task of telling of the passing of so many of their classmates from ’54, who as class president for years, he came to know and love so well.
1955
Albert Barnes is still looking down on the grass. After graduation, Albert started his career on Wall Street as a bond trader and an underwriter of municipal bonds. He retired as a vice president in 1991. He started wintering in Naples, Florida, and now lives there full time. He would love to hear from classmates and friends.
Patricia “Pattie” Hamersly Church is still at her house in Baltimore. She’s very lucky to have her daughters and several grandchildren close by to give a hand when needed and to visit often. There are lots of great-grandchildren coming along, providing much fun and no work for her! Life is going pretty smoothly right now, for which she is very grateful.
Paul Galvin writes that life has been good to him, at the age of 89, and to his wife, Doris Burkert Galvin ’57, age 87. Their four children have retired from work in the last three years. They are enjoying time with them and their six grandchildren. In December, they enjoyed their annual family get-together in one of the Virginia State Park lodges. They are blessed with good neighbors in the community where they have lived for 53 years. McDaniel College gave them rich years of education and many friends.
Jean Nicodemus Huss sends greetings from Hampstead, Maryland. She’s had a series of accidents — a fall in August 2020 when she fractured her left wrist. Her youngest daughter-in-law moved here to help her. In January 2022, she had another fall and fractured her right ankle, and in May of 2022, she had a mild heart attack. She has lots of doctors’ appointments. Jean’s husband, Edward, passed away on July 30, 2022, so she is now a widow. She is still living in her home of over 50 years. Life is a challenge, but she is still able to drive locally. She keeps in touch with Janet Boller Heins and Betsy Myers Bryant.
Jeannette Spatz James has been living in Scottsdale, Arizona, for 11 years. She loves it there. No more snow! Her children rented a cabin in Flagstaff, Arizona, for her 90th birthday last March. Her granddaughter is a freshman in high school and a cheerleader, so she goes to all of the football games. Her husband, Don James ’54, played football for Western Maryland so they are big football fans.
Doris Tuckwood Linton enjoys her Bay Village residence in Sarasota, Florida. She plays duplicate bridge several times a week and loves it. She keeps busy by attending many wonderful church services and activities.
Shelley Myers Willen lives in Broomfield, Colorado, where her two daughters also live. She can’t believe how fast the years have flown. So, to you younger alumni, enjoy yourselves while you still can. It sounds like the present college students at McDaniel have ample opportunities for exciting and interesting experiences right on the Hill with such interesting curriculums.
1956
Fairy Frock Flickinger lost her husband of 63 years on Jan. 1, 2021. He had COVID-19 as well as dementia. Her family and many friends have helped her greatly. She was a church organist for 68 years. On Aug. 1, 2022, she decided to retire. Her church congregation had quite a celebration in her honor. It was wonderful. Now she can go to church to worship with no responsibility, which is great! She is still volunteering at the Taneytown History Museum. She is working in the reference room as well as other positions. Her family consists of one daughter and one son, three grandsons, and five great-grandchildren. Fairy resides in Taneytown, Maryland.
Robert E. Green Jr. and Lyn Hazelip Green ’59 are in their fourth year in a retirement community in Williamsburg, Virginia. While they still miss South Carolina and the friends who remain there, it is becoming more and more apparent that the move was a good decision. They no longer have to make the more than eight-hour drive on I-95 to visit their two children and their families in Richmond, Virginia. Driving has largely been confined to the local area with occasional trips to Richmond, a little over an hour from Williamsburg. They did travel to Towson, Maryland, for Lyn’s high school reunion and to spend time with her sister. Everything considered, they have no complaints as they are able to maintain an active lifestyle and recognize that each day with good health is a blessing.
1964
Earl Armiger writes that he and Mary are still in the same house of the past 26 years, in Ellicott City, Maryland. They are doing well and enjoying their grandkids and great-grandchildren. The have slowed down some but not a whole lot.
Janet Brozik Biles has lived in Carroll Lutheran Village since 2015. She lost her husband, Roy, in 2018. They had traveled to Florida to visit with Lynda Robson Astle each year and this has continued since Roy’s death. Janet volunteers and plays cards or other games. She keeps in touch with Lois Schurman Donaldson and Linda Fabre Barnes.
Carol Wilkinson Coffeen of Parkton, Maryland, lost her husband last March. It was rather sudden. He was taken to the hospital one morning when he was not responsive. He spent 10 days in the ICU and could not handle anymore. Carol had back surgery for spinal stenosis in February 2021 (the second such surgery in three years). Then a spinal fracture was found, requiring 14 more weeks of recovery. During that time, her hip collapsed. There was hip surgery in September followed by five weeks of rehabilitation (including another problem). She is now home, learning to move better and to live alone. Her two daughters and their families have been fantastic through all of this.
Diane Simpson Krell moved to Solomons, Maryland, next to Solomons Island last spring. Now she is eight miles closer to her daughter. She’s been in southern Maryland for 16 years. It’s beautiful in her new setting, especially viewing the fall colors.
Nancy Miller Milinic wishes she could report outstanding accomplishments, but no. She is really enjoying the blessings of good health, being surrounded by family and good friends, travel, the love of books, music, and art. She tries to give and do for others on a daily basis in our topsy-turvy world and to cling to hope for solutions.
Sue Ann Allport Tabler, M.Ed. ’69 sadly lost her husband in January 2022 after 60 years of marriage. Last summer she and her daughter traveled to Rome, Florence, Venice, and then on to Oberammergau to view the passion play. Sue Ann continues to be active in her church, and she spent time in Florida in February 2022.
Linda Truitt Wrightson writes that her daughters, family, and friends have been wonderfully supportive during this difficult time after the loss of her husband, Will Wrightson, who passed away very suddenly on Dec. 9, 2021.
Rhonda J. Myers ’88Honor Class Reporter3925 Sybil RoadRandallstown, MD 21133rhondaj_myers@hotmail.com